By: Clara Quainoo
(GIJ Intern)
The Greater branch of the Ghana Union of Traders Association, (GUTA) has been decoupled from the mother Union and now operating under a new identity as the ‘Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG).’
According to the TAGG leadership, the success stories during their tenure as Greater Accra GUTA and the corresponding calls from traders across the country who want to be part of their activities has resulted in the current development.
Speaking at a press conference to outdoor their new name and identity, the TAGG Treasurer, Irene Victoria Odoom indicated that the name Greater Accra GUTA limited their operations to Accra only and that through elaborate consultation, it was decided by consensus between the two entities, Greater Accra GUTA and Traders’ Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG) to come together under one umbrella to draw all the traders across the country together.
“The association systems and structures we have in place could regulate and mobilize all traders within the country and can easily be access anywhere in the country to register as a member,” she said.
According to Irene Victoria Odoom, “Greater Accra GUTA is happy to unveil Traders’ Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG). From today forth Greater Accra GUTA will be known as Traders’ Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG).”
The Traders’ Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG) she said, is ready and willing to reach out to each and every trader in the country to be part of the group and formalize him or her by registering them.
She averred that the Group has lined up several schemes for traders, noting that “access to credit and protection, trading activities and issues regarding government policies that are detrimental to traders, review trade related policies that come from government and all the agencies that directly affect traders” are things in place to help traders through their advocacy capacities.
Apart from these strategies the group put in place, there are also concerted efforts on the part of leadership to tackle and address the issues of unfair trade practices at the border frontiers and also tackle issues that borders with duties.
The President of TAGG, David Kwadwo Amoateng on his part, pointed out that the group as it currently has the capacity to check and address all unfair trading practices in the system and reach out to the academia and experts with knowledge in trading to solicit opinions regarding trading matters so as to build the group and the businesses of their members.
He also averred that, “TAGG will criticize government constructively and also make sure to engage with government with issues that affect our members. Our doors are open to all the MMDAs and Agencies to engage with us to achieve the betterment of Ghana.”
The General Secretary of the Group, Nana Opoku in an interview explained that no trading Association holds monopoly as mother trading Association in the country and that since Greater Accra GUTA is independently registered as a body, it is not answerable to the National Union Traders Association (GUTA).
“Therefore all MMDAs and Agencies should accord each and every Association per their capacity in numbers,” he said.
He also stressed that TAGG has developed a capacity to bring al partner associations under its umbrella in order to build a strong force together and on one common accord, become strong advocate for the industry where as traders, they get their livelihoods.
